Category: Mouth Guards

If you are asking yourself whether you could benefit from a custom mouth guard, then the answer is almost certainly yes, you probably could. In fact, there are millions of people who could benefit from wearing custom mouth guards who either wear cheap store-bought alternatives or who don’t wear a mouth guard at all. What many of these people do not realize is that their local restorative dentistry practice could custom-craft a mouth guard from the finest materials that would probably end up saving them money – and possibly a lot of pain – in the long run.

At University Dental Arts, we proudly create mouth guards of the highest quality for a variety of purposes. At our cosmetic and contemporary dentistry practice in Denver, mouth guard candidates range from student athletes to chronic tooth grinders. Whatever your needs, you can count on Dr. David Redford and his team to provide you with a durable, comfortable-fitting mouth guard that protects your teeth, gums, and other delicate oral tissues.

Aren’t all mouth guards the same?

Many patients ask us why they should invest in a custom mouth guard when the boil-to-fit option on the shelf of their local drug store is basically the same thing. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Those over-the-counter mouth guards are made from cheap materials that often wear so thin over time that they offer no real protection in the event of actual trauma. In fact, many of those boil-to-fit mouth guards end up harming the sensitive soft tissues of the mouth if they are worn for longer than a few weeks.

Conversely, custom mouth guards are:

Comfortable because they are customized to fit precisely into the patient’s mouth

Far less likely to damage the gums and other soft tissues

Made of strong materials that will protect the teeth in the event of a traumatic event

Will stand up to the rigors of everyday use, maintaining their shape in the long term

Are you a good candidate for a custom mouth guard?

Again, if you are wondering whether you could benefit from a custom mouth guard, you are probably a good candidate for one. Typical candidates include:

Athletes: Especially if you participate in contact sports such as football, boxing, hockey, or rugby, you should definitely purchase a custom mouth guard. Generic mouth guards are unlikely to last a full season, a fact that you will not want to learn the hard way in you final few games.

Patients who suffer from TMJ disorder: If you have problems with your TMJs, or temporomandibular joints, then a custom mouth guard may be prescribed as part of your therapy. The TMJs are the joints located directly in front of the ears; they connect the lower jaw to the skull. A mouth guard can relieve pressure on the joints, particularly if you tend to clench your jaw in your sleep.

Patients who grind their teeth: If you suffer from chronic bruxism, or teeth grinding, then you may be advised to wear a custom mouth guard while you sleep. Doing so can help you from wearing your teeth down and damaging your enamel.